(1) (a) The
general assembly finds that review of child support orders is required in order for
this state to comply with the federal Family Support Act of 1988, the federal
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, and the
federal Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.
(b) The delegate child support enforcement unit shall provide the obligor and
obligee not less than once every thirty-six months notice of their right to request a
review of a child support order. The notice may be included in the support order.
(c) Either party to a case in which services are being provided pursuant to
section 26-13-106 may submit a written request for review of the current child
support order. The request shall include the financial information from the
requesting party necessary to conduct a calculation pursuant to the Colorado child
support guidelines set forth in section 14-10-115, C.R.S. The requesting party shall
provide his or her financial information on the form required by the division of child
support enforcement.
(d) The delegate child support enforcement unit may initiate a review of a
current child support order upon its own request.
(2) The delegate child support enforcement unit shall review each request
received from a party and:
(a) If it has been thirty-six months or more since the last review of the
current child support order, the delegate child support enforcement unit shall grant
the request for review; or
(b) If it has been fewer than thirty-six months since the last review of the
current child support order, the delegate child support enforcement unit shall grant
the request for review if the requesting party provides a reason for review that
could result in a change to the monthly support obligation based upon the
application of the Colorado child support guidelines set forth in section 14-10-115,
C.R.S. If the reason for review arises from the circumstances of the requesting
party, supporting documentation or a demonstration that there has been a
substantial and continuing change in circumstances warranting a review of the
child support amount shall be included with the request. The delegate child support
enforcement unit shall assess and consider the information provided to determine
whether a review is warranted and should be conducted. If a request is denied
pursuant to this paragraph (b), the delegate child support enforcement unit shall
notify the requesting party in writing that the denial does not limit the party's right
to seek modification of a child support order pursuant to section 14-10-122, C.R.S.
(2.5) If there is an active assignment of rights, the delegate child support
enforcement unit shall review the child support order once every thirty-six months
to determine if an adjustment of the child support order is appropriate.
(3) (a) If the delegate child support enforcement unit grants the request for
review, it shall issue a notice of review to the parties. In the case of an automatic
review in which there is an active assignment of rights, both parties shall be
considered nonrequesters. The notice of review shall advise the parties that a
review is to be conducted and allow the nonrequesters twenty days from the date
of the notice to provide the financial information necessary to calculate the child
support obligation pursuant to section 14-10-115, C.R.S. If the child support order is
an administrative order established pursuant to article 13.5 of this title, the review
shall be conducted pursuant to section 26-13.5-112.
(b) The review of the child support order shall be conducted on or before the
thirtieth day after notice of review is sent to the parties. The review may be
conducted in person at the delegate child support enforcement office or via United
States mail or via an electronic communication method. The delegate child support
enforcement unit may grant a continuance of the review for good cause. The
continuance shall be for a reasonable period of time to be determined by the
delegate child support enforcement unit, not to exceed thirty days. During the
review, the determination of the monthly support obligation shall be based on the
child support guidelines set forth in section 14-10-115, C.R.S. To obtain information
necessary to conduct the review, the delegate child support enforcement unit is
authorized to serve, by first-class mail or by electronic means if mutually agreed
upon, an administrative subpoena to any person, corporation, partnership, or other
entity, public employee retirement benefit plan, financial institution, or labor union
for an appearance or for the production of records and financial documents.
(c) An adjustment to the order shall be appropriate only if the standard set
forth in section 14-10-122 (1)(b), C.R.S., is met.
(d) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2002, p. 25, � 5, effective January 1, 2003.)
(4) (a) After the review is completed, the child support enforcement unit
shall provide a post-review notice advising the obligor and obligee of the review
results. The review results shall include a child support guideline worksheet. If the
review indicates that an adjustment to the current monthly support obligation
should be made, a proposed order shall also be included. The delegate child
support enforcement unit shall provide all supporting financial documentation used
to calculate the monthly support obligation to both parties. The review results shall
also contain an advisement to the parties of the right to challenge the proposed
order, the time frame in which to assert the challenge, and the method for doing so.
(b) The obligor and obligee shall be given fifteen days from the date of the
post-review notice to challenge the review results. The grounds for the challenge
shall be limited to the issue of mathematical or factual error in the calculation of
the monthly support obligation. The delegate child support enforcement unit may
grant an extension of up to fifteen days to challenge the review results based upon
a showing of good cause.
(b.5) The delegate child support enforcement unit shall have fifteen days
from the date of receipt of the challenge to respond to a challenge based upon a
mathematical or factual error. If a challenge results in a change to the monthly
support obligation, the delegate child support enforcement unit shall provide an
amended notice of review to the obligor and obligee. The obligor and obligee shall
be given fifteen days from the date of the amended notice of review to challenge
the results of any subsequent review. The grounds for the challenge shall be
limited to the issue of mathematical or factual error in calculation of the monthly
support obligation.
(c) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2007, p. 1654, � 15, effective July 1, 2008.)
(5) (a) (I) If the review indicates that a change to the monthly support
obligation is appropriate and the review is not challenged or all challenges have
been addressed, the delegate child support enforcement unit shall file a motion to
modify with the court. A copy of the motion shall be provided by the delegate child
support enforcement unit to the obligor and obligee and shall contain an
advisement that the obligor and obligee may file a written response with the court
setting forth any objections to the motion to modify.
(II) If a motion to modify is filed with the court, the court may enter an order
granting the motion, issue a revised order, or set a hearing. Regardless of whether
the order has been approved by the obligor and obligee, the court may grant the
motion to modify.
(b) If a hearing is necessary, the court shall hold a hearing within forty-five
days after service of the motion to modify, and the court shall decide only the
issues of child support and medical support. Any documentary evidence provided
by the obligee or the obligor or by the delegate child support enforcement unit may
be admitted into evidence by the court without the necessity of laying a foundation
for its admissibility, and the court may determine the relative weight or credibility
to give any such documentation.
(5.3) If income information is not available for the obligor, the delegate child
support enforcement unit may file a motion to modify child support with the court.
(5.7) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit a delegate child
support enforcement unit's right to file a motion to modify with the court pursuant
to section 14-10-122, C.R.S.
(6) The state board shall adopt rules and regulations establishing
standardized forms and procedures as necessary to implement the provisions of
this article.
(7) This article shall apply to all orders for support of a child for whom child
support enforcement services are being provided.
(8) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit any party's right to
seek modification of a child support order pursuant to article 5 of title 14, section
14-10-122, section 19-4-119, or section 19-6-104 (4), C.R.S.